Plein Air Painting in the Alps

Package Overview

Find your Artistic Inspiration in the Alps
The Swiss Alps is a dream destination for a plein air painter. With such spectacular mountain scenery at every turn—waterfalls, glaciated peaks, wildflowers and shimmering lakes—there is no end to artistic inspiration in Switzerland. For this workshop we've custom-designed the ideal itinerary that includes plein air painting opportunities in the most inspiring settings; alpine meadows, cobblestoned villages, ancient hillside vineyards, and abundant flowers pouring from window boxes. We can't wait to show you these hidden treasures.

Watercolor in the Alps—The Perfect Combination
With its ease of portability and rapid drying time, watercolor is the perfect medium to paint en plein air. Under the guidance of your award-winning instructor, Jana Parkin, you'll join other active, artistic folks and set up your easel in the ideal spot to capture a layered mountain landscape, life on a small alpine farm, ancient terracing of the Rhone Valley, or a small cafe within a walled medieval village. You'll have every opportunity to lay down beautiful, juicy washes and rich colors and hone your watercolor techniques in one of the world's most stunningly beautiful outdoor destinations. Everyone's skills will flourish in this unique workshop setting, whether beginner or advanced. No express talent or skill level is required to enjoy the experience.

Exquisite Mountain Scenery Awaits
As we explore the Alps on gentle mountain trails you'll be introduced to astounding settings--hidden destinations the typical tourist would never reach. you'll be based in the Jungfrau Region, one of the most beautiful places on earth, nestled in a dramatic glacial valley below the majestic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

Superb Alpine Hotels with Delicious Food
You'll stay in charming family-owned hotels known for their superb service, picturesque locations, and delectable cuisine. You'll also spend two unforgettable days in the medieval, walled village of Gruyeres with its famous castle, where you get to savor their famous cheese and fine chocolate.

We take care of every detail throughout your stay. Your tour includes hand-selected hotels, all ground transportation and delicious Swiss meals every day. That leaves you free to paint and immerse yourself in the experience of the Alps with its captivating European culture and cuisine. The delightful locales, ancient traditions, surprising colors and alpine settings will spark your creative genius and give you an unforgettable artistic journey.



About Our Artist-in-Residence

Jana Winters Parkin, UWS, is an award-winning artist specializing in watercolor, with a passion for the great outdoors. She was practically raised with a paintbrush in her hand, brought up under the tutelage of her father, art educator and watercolorist Dr. Nathan B. Winters. Her college education began at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, the University of Cambridge in England, and she earned her BFA from the University of Utah, under internationally recognized watercolorists George Dibble and Ed Maryon. Since then she has studied with some of the world’s great watercolor painters, including Charles Reid, Cheng Khee Chee, Linda Kemp, Alvaro Castagnet, and Thomas Schaller.

Jana spent 15 years running a design and illustration studio in Los Angeles, where many celebrities commissioned her work, including Paul Newman (Scott Newman Center), Melanie Griffith (Sabera Foundation), Michelle Pfeiffer (Victory Over Violence), the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Hollywood Bowl. A turning point came when Breez Fragrances commissioned 30 original watercolors to introduce their new fragrance lines. Jana discovered her passion and her future was in watercolor.

Jana has been plein-air painting for over 30 years, beginning in the Monterey Bay area, and branching out to include such sites as Angeles National Forest and the canyons and beaches of Southern California; Oahu, Maui, and the big island of Hawaii; the majestic red-rock wonders of Utah’s national parks: Bryce, Zion, and Capitol Reef; the Oregon coast; Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the grand Tetons; Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, Palm Desert, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz in greater California; Vivian Park, Bridal Veil Falls, Sundance Resort, Aspen Grove, Bear Lake, Cascade Springs, Flaming Gorge, and Snow Canyon in Utah; Orlando and Sarasota Florida, and of course New York City and the Hudson River Valley.

Internationally, she has sketched and painted on the streets of Mexico and the coast of Puerto Vallarta; in Cubelles, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, the rolling hills and red-tile roofs of the Tuscany region of Italy; Paris, France and its surroundings, and throughout England and Scotland, from the Isle of Skye, to the Lake District, London and Cambridge, and the white cliffs of Dover.

Jana and her family left the hectic pace of Los Angeles eleven years ago and settled for a more peaceful regimen, enjoying the canyon trails and mountain vistas of northern Utah. Jana has taught beginning through advanced watercolor courses at Utah Valley University since 2007. She is also a popular workshop instructor and teaches private lessons in her home studio.